One priority Jesus made plain to those who were struggling to understand what it was He expected of them, was that He wanted them to die, and He is expecting all of us here to die too. Their plans; their dreams; their aspirations; their ministries. Our hopes; our desires; our understanding; our wills. All these were and are to be taken to the cemetery where spiritual objectives are resurrected out of lives that no longer hold any right to the ownership of their own fate. Until we die, He does not live in us. Until we stop clinging to those old ways, we cannot really come alive in Christ. Paul understood that.

That's why he could say, "For me to live is Christ."

But precious few really come to that point. The reality of dying to self seems to have been lost in this "me-too" society in which we live. However, `death to self' is a constant, ongoing mindset that passes away after life leaves our body. When the flesh cries out for recognition or gratification that is contrary to the Word of God, the cry just plainly needs to be ignored. How can a dead person hear? So the muffled call of the flesh is translated into the language of the Spirit and the Word of God answers instead. That you can hear. You are alive in the Spirit, so when the Spirit calls to you from the Word you immediately respond.

This pattern repeats itself over and over until you no longer even mourn the loss of the things you are denied, because they only appeal to dead people, and you're alive in Christ. That's exactly what Paul meant when he said, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live." And that's what Jesus meant when He said in this passage:

Jn. 12:24 Verily. verily. I say unto you. Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Jn. 12:25 He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal "

Jesus is saying that if you really want to be a disciple, you must understand that even nature demonstrates the procedure which precedes the bringing forth of new life. That which represented the old life must die, be buried, and left alone. The `leaving alone' is critical!! Because something new is going to come forth. As a farmer I assure you that if you continually uncover seeds to check on progress...that's what you'll have; only seeds; never growth into plants and fruit. You can't have it both ways. You can't be "dead to self" and still place limits on God about what He can and can't do in your life. You can't he "dead to self" and still cling to habits and desires and appetites that are in disharmony with the principles of Scripture. You no longer even have that option. Men and women, stop acting like it IS an option anymore!

People who are dead don't fight change. They can't. That's why Jesus defined dying to self as a matter of love and hate. Love this old life? You'll only lose everything you've given your life for. Hate the old life and what it stands for? Good. What you will gain in the process of choosing you can keep for all eternity.

You must literally choose on a minute by minute basis to acknowledge that you are a dead man; so that when the flesh cries out for recognition, you simply choose to ignore the cries of a dead man. Otherwise, you will assume the Christian life is a battle between two equally imposing forces and will spend your life trying to live in both worlds. You cannot do that and live in victory. The only power Satan has is to deceive us into THINKING our desires are `too strong. '

This is sheer nonsense, and by dwelling on this thought we strengthen his grip on our mind. If there is a habit or a thought pattern that has plagued you from your youth, and you constantly have to do battle with those thoughts, remember, a dead man doesn't enjoy those things...and you're dead :) Remember the saying? `Falling is NOT an option!' Therefore, every time those thoughts begin to appear in your mind, you consciously say... "I am crucified with Christ". Self is dead. And dead people can't respond. "Christ is alive, and Christ doesn't enjoy those thoughts; yea, Christ in me hates those thoughts. Therefore, by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within me, I choose to acknowledge that self is dead, and Christ is alive, and those thoughts have no place in my heart."

Then you begin to meditate on the Scriptures. It all happens in an instant, but if it happens often enough, it becomes automatic. I can say I have reached this point in my life that when Satan foolishly tempts me I automatically cast the thought aside as `deceitful temptation' and praise my Lord instead. It is so easy once this principle is placed in effect!

The choices are made based on God's Word, not on the emotions of a dead man. Self is dead. Leave it alone and buried. Christ is alive. Put on the new man "who after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Then and only then will you be able to become a true disciple!!